Mole crickets love the liveliness of late spring as much as we do. The warmer temperatures encourage them to tunnel beneath lawns and feast on grass roots. Learn how to get rid of mole crickets and stop them from wreaking havoc on your lush, green lawn.
What are mole crickets?
Mole crickets are small insects that belong to the family Gryllotalpidae, along with grasshoppers, locusts, and traditional crickets. They resemble moles but have cricket-like, grayish-brown bodies and large eyes. Adult mole crickets grow one to two inches long. Like most insects, mole crickets have three pairs of legs, a set of antennae, and a segmented body.
Mole crickets eat grass, plant stems, and roots in upper soil layers. They spend most of their time underground and use their spade-like front legs to tunnel through the soil near the surface. Additionally, male mole crickets make a low chirping sound for about an hour after sunset to attract females.
A mole cricket’s life cycle consists of three stages:
- Egg
- Larva or nymph
- Adult
How to get rid of mole crickets
While there are many approaches to mole cricket control, they work best on small populations. These methods are also the most effective on mole crickets in the larva or nymph stage when they are the most vulnerable and closest to the surface
Nematodes
Beneficial nematodes, also known as roundworms, attack a wide variety of pests. Apply nematodes right after or just before it rains. Additionally, you can also water your lawn. Aim for a morning or evening application as nematodes are sensitive to UV rays.
Once applied, the nematodes will seek out the mole crickets and use them as a host, consuming them in 24 to 48 hours.
Neem oil
If you prefer a safe and eco-friendly option for managing mole cricket infestations in your lawn and garden, consider neem oil. Derived from the neem tree, this oil combats many uninvited pests.
DIY create your own natural insecticide spray by mixing neem oil with water and applying it to your lawn where you have noticed mole cricket activity. The spray works by coating the mole crickets and interfering with their feeding and reproductive processes.
Pro tip: Neem oil is safe for humans and pets and poses minimal risk to nontarget insects like beneficial pollinators.
Soapy water
Mole crickets burrow into dry soil and emerge when it’s dark outside. However, you can flush them out of their burrows with this simple DIY method.
Combine dish soap and water to create a soap solution. In the evening, pour the solution onto your lawn where you suspect insect activity. The mole crickets will surface, and you can manually remove them.
DIY glass trap
Another DIY option combines simple pantry items. All you need is a glass mason jar and a bottle of honey. Apply the honey to the bottom of a mason jar. Bury the jar so that the top is level with your lawn’s surface. Cover the top of the jar with grass clippings, straw, or other organic matter like leaves to attract the mole crickets. As the mole crickets creep into the jar, the sticky honey will trap them inside and they’ll eventually die.
Chemical control methods
Sometimes, DIY methods aren’t potent enough for large infestations. Consider turning to chemical solutions. There are two main types of chemical control methods for mole crickets:
Bait
Baits are granules or sprays containing enticing toxins. Place bait around your landscape to attract mole crickets and eliminate your pest problem.
Reapply your bait if it rains, and don’t water your lawn for a few days after you place the bait. Otherwise, the bait will wash away, and you will have to set out fresh bait again, which is a waste of time and money. Mole cricket bait is available at your local garden store or online.
Insecticide
Insecticides target and eliminate unwanted pests like mole crickets. They are available in liquid and granular form, though they are more harmful to the environment and beneficial insects.
Apply pesticides in the early summer to target mole crickets in their nymph stage. Apply granules or spray to moist soil. This settles the insecticides into the surface of the soil where the mole crickets will come into contact with it.
Professional pest control
Some of the methods to get rid of mole crickets are easily doable and safe for homeowners to DIY. But when you’re dealing with potentially dangerous chemical products, it’s always a good idea to call in a professional.
A professional pest control company has years of experience and training, so they know the right quantities to use and the appropriate application methods that will safely and effectively get rid of your mole cricket problem for good. The right expertise can completely eliminate mole crickets from your lawn for a long time and prevent them from returning.
Where do you find mole crickets?
Mole crickets are most prevalent in the Southeastern United States and are responsible for significant damage to lawns and gardens from February to June and again from September to October. They are mostly dormant from October to March, but as the temperature rises in the spring, they begin to mate.
Three species of mole crickets wreak havoc on the Southeastern United States:
- Southern mole crickets stretch across the Southern U.S. from Arizona to North Carolina.
- Short-winged mole crickets invade lawns and gardens in Southern Georgia and Florida.
- Tawny mole crickets tunnel through most of the South, including Florida, North Carolina, and Louisiana.
What are the signs of a mole cricket invasion?
Subterranean mole crickets are nocturnal, so it can be hard to tell that your lawn is under attack until the damage is done. Here are a few signs of activity to watch for:
- Small mounds of soil
- Uprooted, brown, or dead patches of grass
- Spongy turfgrass
Pro tip: Mole crickets commonly invade areas under or around trees and bushes, decks and patios, and areas with leaf debris
What attracts mole crickets?
Mole crickets love to munch on the stems and roots of grass and small plants. They’re generally attracted to lawns with abundant thatch build-up–a spongy, thick mat of decomposed grass clippings and leaves on the soil surface. It’s one of the reasons experts advise keeping your thatch layer in check.
Thatch provides a suitable habitat for mole crickets to overwinter in burrows. The crickets work their way to the surface of the grass as spring arrives and the soil gets warmer.
What type of grass is susceptible to mole crickets?
Each species of mole crickets has its preferred food source. For instance, the short-winged mole cricket prefers Bermudagrass and St. Augustinegrass, while the tawny mole cricket loves Bermuda and Bahiagrass lawns.
The most susceptible grass types are Bahia and Bermudagrass since warm-season grasses are most damaged by mole crickets. St. Augustine is also highly susceptible to injury by these pesky insects. Zoysiagrass and centipedegrass are both dense turfgrasses and are rarely damaged by mole crickets.
How to prevent mole crickets
Proactive prevention is the best option for mole crickets. Here are some tips and tricks for preventing mole crickets from returning to your lawn:
- Monitor for signs of mole crickets and listen for their low chirps at night. Watch for new dead patches of turfgrass, uprooted seedlings, or tunneling activity.
- Fill cracks and holes near decks, patios, shrubs, and trees to prevent mole cricket populations from invading.
- When planting new seeds, consider adding iodine. Iodine is an excellent repellent for mole crickets and also helps with soil iodine deficiency.
- Plant herbs like lemongrass, citronella, and peppermint keep mole crickets away. The scent and natural essential oils repel most pests.
- Encourage natural predators like birds, beetles, bats, and lizards.
FAQ about mole crickets
How long do mole crickets live?
Compared to other insects, mole crickets have a long lifespan. They live for one to two years, and eggs hatch approximately 20 days after being laid.
Are mole crickets harmful to humans?
No, mole crickets are harmless. They can’t sting and generally do not bite humans, but they can bite if provoked. If you’re bitten by a mole cricket, don’t worry! They won’t cause any allergic reactions or other symptoms.
How deep do mole crickets dig?
Mole crickets create tunnels and chambers that are four to eight inches deep.
Hire a pro
Mole crickets are a nuisance and sometimes, DIY methods don’t cut it. If your infestation is out of control, let Lawn Love connect you with a local landscaping professional who can get your lawn back on the road to health.
Main photo credit: iStock
